BUSCH: Beating around the busch, chapter 22

Beating Around The Busch: Chapter Twenty-two, Bristol
By: Thomas Chemris
Another one bites the dust, so to speak. PPC Racing announced that
sponsor of Jason Keller and the fifty-seven team will be loosing their
sponsor Albertson's at the end of...

Another one bites the dust, so to speak. PPC Racing announced that
sponsor of Jason Keller and the fifty-seven team will be loosing their
sponsor Albertson's at the end of the season. For those who are keeping
score, that's Nesquick, Albertson's, and Dr pepper who will be leaving
the series, and several top team, including both PPC cars, Jackson
Herzog, and Chance two all looking for financial support for the 2004
season.

"Albertson's has been a great sponsor, but with the way the economy is,
it just one of those deals, noted Keller.

New Jersey's Martin Truex Jr debuted at Bristol taking the wheel of the
Chance 2 Chevrolet. Truex started thirteenth, and finished sixth Team
owner Dale Earnhardt Jr has indicated if a sponsor could be found, he
would like to put Truex in the car for a full season run. Truex sported a
tribute car to Dale Jr's grandfather Robert Gee

Robert Gee is not only legendary for helping many drivers get their start
in stock car racing, but also as one of the greatest fabricators. Gee
worked with NASCAR legends such as; Bobby Isaacs, Dale Earnhardt and
Darrell Waltrip.

Johnny Sauter pulled triple duty at Bristol. He stepped in the number 9
truck originally fielded for Christian Fittipaldi, but a manufactures
conflict opened the ride up for the Wisconsin native. Sauter finished
twenty-fifth in the truck event, nineteenth in the Busch series, and
twenty-fifth in the Cup event driving for Morgan McClure. Sauter, who
drives for two different teams, is currently eighth in the championship
point's battle.

One of Sauter Busch owners, Richard Childress are currently holds the
lead in the series owner's championship. If successful, Childress will
become the first owner since 1963 that a team scores the owners title
with more than one driver.

"We're still 12 races away and a lot can happen. You can lose the lead
in just one race. It's that easy in this business. We've had some
misfortunes this season, with a wreck in Talladega and losing a couple of
engines. Things like that have really kept us from having a bigger lead
at this point in the season. But the intentions of everyone involved with
the Payday program are to keep digging and win the championship." Said
Childress.

Winn Dixie and Pepsi Co have announced a conjoint sponsorship of next
weekends Darlington race.